The Saliva of an Ifugao as an Artist

Local Gallery: The Saliva of an Ifugao as an Artist
Artist: Gaston Damag
Date: 2010

 

Materials: Tiles, Water Closets, Sinks, Saliva, Wooden Pestles, Areca nut, Betel leaf pepper,Wooden sticks scluptures.

Background:  Gaston Damag is a Filipino artist who has been working in France for the past 20 years.This France-based artist is known for assimilating Industrial materials with ethnographic sculptures.His art form aims to respond to cultural and physical dichotomies. The saliva of an Ifugao as an artist is located at the 2nd Floor of the Vargas Museum in the University of the Philippines, Diliman. The art depicts a comfort room or rest room. Unlike most rest rooms this is an erring depiction by an artist that may shock and baffle some museum goers. The place has wooden pole-like sculptures protruding from the ground and the ceiling. The mirrors and the rest of the room seem to be soiled by a vomit like substance. Also, some nuts that seem to look like feces at first glance can be seen placed in some parts of the room.